Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-06-02
Memorial Day.

Memorial Day.
Memorial afternoon passedpleasantly
in spite of the rain and the gloomy prog
nostications of the morning. The
clouds that had sulked along the horizon
in the early hours of the day, alternately
advancing and retreating, about nine
O'Clock gathered their forces together
and took the town by storm. In the
midst of the showers a few carriages
came.into thevillage and the preparations
for the coming exercises went on. Tht
monument was draped in black anC
adorned with flowers. Around the cap.
ing, just within the chains was heavy
bank of brakes and ferns and the stone
bases of the smaller pillars and the cen
trail shaft were concealed with ferns
On each pillar were placed two basket;
of flowers gracefully arranged with al
Iintermixture of two harmonious colors
as the massing of one color. On the biel
that stood beneath the memorial tablet to
the unknown dead was a large wreath,
green starred with white blossoms and a
beautiful basket of flowers. On each Of
the other three sides of the monument
were large garden vases showing pro.
fusion of bloom. Across the face OF
the western panel was stretched black
scarf bearing the name of Logan. When
the labor of love was completed, many
cast sad eyes at the clouds and said sit
will rain all day." but few hopeful
ones, seeing an occasional rift, and the
blue beyond, took heart of grace to say
at will clear and it did clear. The
relenting clouds dropped to the hor-
lion and when the crowd gathered at
one O'Clock sunshine was clarifying the
earth. The band set the day to music
and with the old patriotic airs that have
played regiments into battle and inspired
the weak or discouraged, with enthusi-
asm little less than divine, tuned each
heart to the occasion.
The children fifty in number boys and
girls in bright array laden with flowers,
with little drum major at their head,
marched between the ranks of the
G. A. r. from the court house to the
monument and passed within the enclos-
ure threw in their offerings of flowers.
Passing out at the western corner, they
mounted by twos the platform erected
for them and sang with childish enthusi-
asm and sweetness their memorial hymn.
While they were singing the G. A. R.
had formed about the monument and
when the echo of young voices died
away, they began their impressive GER
emonies. Heretofore the exercises have
been performed at the speakers plat
form and after all other ceremonies were
over, but it seems much more appropri-
ate that the old soldiers should perform
their ceremonies standing against the
shafts that bear their comrades names,
and that they should lead the exercises.
When the old hymn America rang on
the air at the close, those who were lis
tening felt that those men who had risked
life for "sweet land of liberty" of which
they sang, knew how to sing it thrilling
ly. The crowd now moved to the speak
er's platform and filled the seats and all
the spaces in front. Mr.. Baxter, as
president of the day, announced the
order of exercises, and after singing by
the chorus choir and prayer by Rev. Mr..
Pengilly, introduced the orator. Mr.. p
j. Clawson. Mr.. Clawson has q good
voice. one which tells in the open air
and he held his audience to the close.
1t was remarked by all that no such quiet
had prevailed on any other like occasion.
Singing by the choir and the benediction
closed the exercises of the day and the
band again took up old refrains and
throughout the remainder of the after
noon filled the air with the familiar
strains, to old soldiers hearts like echoes
from the camp and field.